Parsha Talk Veetchanan Nachamu 2023 5783 – Makhela Track

Parsha Talk with Rabbis Eliot Malomet, Barry Chesler and Jeremy Kalmanofsky. The shabbat when we read Parashat Va-etchanan [Deuteronomy 3:23–7:11] is known as Shabbat Nachamu, after the opening words of the special haftarah [prophetic portion, this week Isaiah 40:1–26] recited on the shabbat after Tisha B’Av [this year observed Wednesday night/Thursday, July 26–27]. Each haftarah for the 7 shabbatot following Tisha B’Av comes from the last 27 chapters of Isaiah, the section known to most biblical scholars as Second Isaiah, a 6th century B.C.E. prophet, which is distinguished from First Isaiah, an 8th century B.C.E. prophet whose prophecies appear in the first 39 chapters of the Book Isaiah. These haftarot of consolation will provide material for our conversation in the coming weeks.
The Torah reading itself is one of the great highlights reels of the weekly Torah reading, containing the 2nd version of the 10 Commandments, the first paragraph of the Sh’ma, and a number of verses which have become part of the liturgy for prayer services during the week and on shabbat and holidays. So, there is a lot to talk about, though, as seems inevitable for us lately, we keep coming back to Moshe and his not being allowed to enter the Land of Israel. Listen to the end for a special bonus – 2009 Makhela rendition of Nachamu! Shabbat Shalom!